Traffic signaling construction



Aug. 30, 1932. J. MATTSON TRAFFIC SIGNALING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 7, 1931 ETA-m INVENTOR BY gn w. we

ATTORN EYS Patented Aug; 3%, Eddie JULIUS MATTSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS, A$SIGNOB 6F @Bl'E-FQ'URTE "I9 ERIC MATTEQIK AND ONE-FOURTH'TO HERMAN PALM, BOTH 0F .GHIGAGO, ILLINQIE TRAFFIC SIGNAIENG CONSTRUCTIQIBT Application filed Qctober 3,1931. Serial No. 567,495.

My invention relates to improvements in trailic signaling constructions, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a trafic signaling construction inwhich all of the signals may be transmitted by the light of a single lamp or group of lamps,

A. further object is to provide a device or": the class described in which both stop and go signals may be transmitted given direction through the same Window,

further object is to provide a construction of the class described which is provided with a stationary exterior casing in upper portion in which a rotatably mounted interior casing may be moved horizontally in a pro determined manner.

A further object is to provide in a construction of the class described a rotatably mounted interior casing which is provided at its periphery with colored panes of glasses and is provided at its center with a common source of light withwhich all of the'pa'nes are illuminated A further object of my-invention is to provide a construction having an inner revolving drum adapted to be operated intermittently and carrying a central lamp or group of lamps mounted on the drum;

A further object of myinvention is to provide a means for displaying various shades of a arentl rotatin 1i htv which is ada t- P pp y g g p wardly tapered co lar portion 16. The collar 55 ed for use either as a toy or for advertising means.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide a device which is ofcheap and simple construction, efiicient in operation, and adapted to withstand long and continuous use. Y

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a traflic purpose of enabling directing construction embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure is a section taken along the l-l of Figure 2.

carrying out my invention, make use oi base 1, a tubular means 2 supported the base, support chamber 3, and a e t-eimal housing llCll encloses a re" housing The external housing and tatable housing each provided plurality of glass panes hereinafter to? scribed,

The base 1 may be provided at its bottom portion with a flange 6 which is perforated as indicated at 'Z for the purpose of receiving bolts 8 by which tion 12, the upper portion of which is flanged m outwardly as is indicated at 13 and connected to a horizontal Wall portion 14. The supporting chamber may also be provided with a roof ortion 15 havin a centrally disposed inportion is provided with a tapered bore 17 which is adapted to provide a bearing for a rotatably mounted shaft 18. All of the before-mentioned portions of the supporting chamber may, if desired, be formed integralp0 1y with each other of a single piece of metal casting. f I

The sleeve 2 and the recessed portion 12 may be detachably connected together by any suitable means, such as the bolts 19. The reduced as portion 12 may be provided with an internal bore20 ada ted toreceive the shaft 18. If desired, a rol er bearing means 21 and a cylindrical bearing 22 mayl be provided for the the base may be rigidly sem cured to a cement block or other suitable ob the sleeve 2. An w e tapered shaft 18 to too rotate with a minimum of frictional losses.

' shown.

enable. the recess 27 to receive a pluralityof lamps which may, if desired, be substituted for the one lamp 26; i

The supporting chamber with a door 30 which. may be swinginglycarried by hinges 31. secured to the cylindrical chamber wall 14. I The base of the exterior housing 4 may be formedof a saucer-shaped member 33 having a centrally disposed opening which is adapted to fit snugly aboutthe upper cylindrical portion of the collar 16,v

substantially as shown. The roof portion 15 of the supporting chamber may be flanged as is indicated at 32..

The saucer-shaped member 33 may be rigidly secured to the top portion 15 by means of bolts 35. The member 33 may be also provided with a peripheral downwardly and outwardly extending flanged portion 36 adapted to support, a cylindrical wall portion 37 of the exterior housing 4. The flanged portion 36 and the wall portion 37 may be rigidly secured togetherby welding or by any other suitable means, such as, for instance, by the bolts: 38. The wall portion 37 may be provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed openings 39. These openings may be provided with window frames 40 adapted to carry a plurality of lass panes 41. The window frames 40 may e rigidly secured to the wall portion 37 and a peripheral flange 42 of a dome-shaped cover portion 43 by means of bolts 44. The cover portion 43 may be provided at its upper central portion with an opening 45 adapted to receive a cap member 46. The cap member 46 may be provided with a rod 47 having a knurled head 48 by which the cap portion may be removed for the ur-' .pose'of obtaining access to the interior 0 the ousing 5. The cap member 46 and the cover portion 43 may be provided with means, not.

- shown, whereby the cap may be locked tothe housing 5.

The upper portion 29 of the shaft 18 may may be provided be provided with shoulders 49, a reduced threaded portion 50, and a nut 51 for the purpose of supporting and retaining a saucer-shaped base member 52 which is provided with a central opening. The saucershaped member 33 and the saucer-shaped base portion 52 may each be providedwith a plurality of openings 53 for the purpose of admitting air into the'interior housing 5. The member 52 may be provided with a horizontally disposed rim portion 54 and a downwardly and outwardly flanged portion 55-. The interior housing 5 is also provided with an outwardly and downwardly .inclined cover portion 56. The cover portion 56is provided at its top with an upwardly extending collar member 57 adapted to receive a cap member 58. The cap member 58 may be depressed in its central portion and provided with a handle 59. The cap members 46 and 58, when removed, provide means of obtaining access into the interior of the housing 5 for theTp-u-rpose of providing a new lamp when one is needed and for cleaning, if necessary, the interior of the hous ings 4 and 5. The cover portion 56 is provided with a horizontally extending rim portion 60 and an upwardly and outwardly flanged portion 61. g

" The horizontal rim portion 54 of the base member 52 and the rim portion 60 of the cover portion 56 are each provided with a plurality of openings 62 for the purpose of receiving a bolt means63. Each of the bolt means 63 is provided with a' flat inner end portion 64. I

4 'The flat end portions 64 of the bolt means 63 are adapted to cooperate with the flanged portions 55 and 61 .in detachably securing a plurality of curved colored panes of glass 65 to 72, inclusive. Each of'these panes is provided at its upper and lower portions with an inwardly extending flange 73.

' From theforegoing description ofthe various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Now let us assume forthe purpose of illustration that the glass panes 65 and 69 are green, that the panes 67 and 71 are rod, that the intermediate panes 66, 68, 70, and 72 are yellow, that the panes are in the positionindicated in Figure 3, and that the lamp 26 is lighted.

The traflic facing the green-lights'is of course bein given the right'of way, while the traffic facing the red lights is stopped.

The interior housing may now be slowly and steadily rotated until the yellow panes are advanced to such aposition that only a yellow light 'will shme. through the windows 41.

. The housing-mayth'en be rapi'dly-rotated in the same direction until the red and green lights have exchanged their former positions. During the interval during which the yellow panes are slowly and steadily coming into view, the people on both of the interi emme secting streets will be enabled to determine at any instant from the position of the yellow panes approximately how much time will elapse before the change in the position of the red and green lights is fully made.

This ability to determine the amount of time elasping before the complete change of traffic signals is completed will prove of value both to the pedestrian and the automobilist. It is'particularly necessary for the infirm pedestrian to be able to determine whether or not he can cross the street'before the onrush of the automobiles incidental to a change in traffic signals.

The fact that the information is conveyed to a pedestrian by the light of a single lamp through a single window tends to prevent confusion and to eliminate accidents as it is an extremely simple thing to Watch a single window.

It will of course be understood that the window panes 41 may be made in any suitable size or shape and that the rotatable housing 5 may be moved in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. If desired, an opening 75 may be provided extending through the reduced cylindrical base portion 12 of the supporting chamber 3 for the purpose of admitting electrical conductors to the motor and the timing mechanism whereby the shaft 18 and the interior housing 5 is actuated. The supporting chamber may be of a suitable size to receive these electrical elements.

While I have shown the supportin chamber 3 and the stationary and rotatab e housing supported by the base 1 and thetubular means 2, it will be understood that these may be supported in any other suitable manner and may, ifdesired, be secured to a bridge or any other suitable platform above the street.

The device of my invention as shown in Figure 1 may be made, if desired, in miniature for the purpose of providing toys for children or display means for advertising purposes.

I claim:

1. In a signaling device of the character described, the combination of a rigid hollow supporting housing, an external housing rigidly secured to and carried on the top of said supportinghousing, a rotatable chamber rotatably mounted within the external housing and being provided with a downwardly extending tubular shaft, rotatably carried by said supporting housing and threaded means in the upper end ofsaid shaft whereby an electric bulb may be threadedly carried in said shaft, and extending directly above said shaft, said housing and said chamber each being provided with top, bottom and side walls, the side walls of said housing being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed windows, the side walls of said chamber being transparent and consisting of a plurality of pairs of colored panes, each pane of said pairs being of the" same color, and being oppositely disposed supporting housing, an external housing rigidly secured to and carried on the top of said supporting housing, a rotatable chamber rotatably mounted within the external housing and being provided with a downwardly extending tubular shaft, rotatably carried by said supporting housing and threaded means in the upper end of said shaft whereby an electric bulb may be threadedly carried in said shaft, and extending directly above said shaft, said housing and said chamber each being provided with top, bottom and side walls, the side walls of said housing being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed windows,the side walls of said chamber being transparent and consisting of a plurality of pairs of colored panes, each pane of said pairs being of the same color, and being oppositely disposed with respect to each other, each of said plurality of colored panes being provided with flanges whereby said plurality of panes may be clampingly bolted to the top and bottom walls of said housing.

3. In asignaling device of the character described, the combination of a rigid hollow supporting housing, an external housing rigidly secured to and carried on the top of said supporting housing, a rotatable chamber rotatably mounted within the external housing and being provided with a downwardly extending tubular shaft, rotatably carried by said supporting housing and threaded means in the upper end of said shaft whereby an electric bulb may be threadedly carried in said shaft, and extending directly above said shaft, said housing and said chamber each being provided with top, botton and side walls, the side walls of said housing being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed windows, the side walls of said chamber being transparent and consist ing of a plurality of pairs of colored panes, each paneof said pairs being of the same color, and being oppositely disposed with respect to each other, the top walls of said housing and said chamber being each provided with central openings and means for closing said openings whereby access may be had to the interior of the housing and the chamber, and said openings may be thereafter closed in a water tight manner.

4. In a signaling device of the character described,,the combination of a rigid hollow supporting housing, an external housing rigidly secured to and carried on the top of said supporting housing, a rotatable chamber rotatably mounted within the external housing and being provided with a down- Wardly extending tubular, shaft, rotatably carried by said supporting housing and threaded means in the upper end of said shaft 'whereby an electric bulb may be threadedly carried in said shaft, and extending directly above said shaft, said housing and said chamber each being provided with top, bottom and side walls, the sidewalls of said housing being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed windows, the side walls of said chamber being transparent and consisting of a plurality of pairs of colored panes, each pane of said pairs being of the same color,

' and being oppositely disposed with respect to each other, each of said plurality of colored panes being provided with flanges whereby said plurality ofrpanes may be clampingly bolted to the top and bottom walls of said housing, the top walls of said housing and said chamber being each provided with central openings and means for closing said openings whereby access may be had to the interior of the housing and the chamber, and said openings may be thereafter closed in a water tight manner.

5. In a signaling device of the-character described, the combination of a supporting housing and an external housing rigidly secured to and carried on the top of said supporting housing, and a rotatable chamber rotatably mounted within said external housing, said external housing and said rotatable chamber each being provided with top, bottom and side wall portions, the side wall poi tions of said'external housing being provided with transparent windows, the side wall portion of said rotatable housing comprising a plurality of colored panes, each of said panes being provided with end portions, the end portions of each of said panes contacting and being in alignment with the end portions of an adjacent pane so asto provide a, side wall which is entirely transparent.

- Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook,

- and State of Illinois, this 24th day of September, A. D. 1931.

JULIUS'MATTSON; 

